CONSUMERS : Baseball Pocket Computer Hits a Homer

Say hey, baseball fanatics: Here’s one for you, just in time for the 1992 season. It’s the Big League Baseball Electronic Encyclopedia, a shirt-pocket computer that contains more than a million baseball statistics.

This compact device (weight, 5 ounces; measurements, 4 1/2 by 3 1/4 inches) provides easy access to more than 620,000 batting and 270,000 pitching statistics. It gives detailed career and year-by-year stats, plus birth date, death date, height and weight, handedness of batting and throwing of everyone who ever played in the American League or National League, according to a spokeswoman for Franklin Electronic Publishers Inc.

Here’s a quick trivia test: What team won the National League pennant in 1876? How many of the 10 all-time tallest players were named Slim? Who has the lowest earned run average among left-handed American League pitchers who have won at least 100 games, pitched before 1970, and never made it to the Hall of Fame? (Answers are below.)

Don’t worry if you can’t spell a player’s name right. The encyclopedia has a built-in phonetic spelling corrector that corrects misspelled players’ names and offers alternatives for guesses. You also can make your own best and worst lists of players or set up lists of unusual stats you want to remember.

The computer comes with lithium batteries and a hard-cover case. Franklin just started shipping the Big League Baseball computer (suggested retail is $129.50, but it will sell as a promotional price for $99) to nationwide electronic, department and mass merchandise stores. It’s at Sharper Image stores and will be available at Sears, Radio Shack and Macy’s by the end of April. If you can’t find it in your area, contact Franklin Electronic Publishers, 122 Burrs Road, Mt. Holly, N.J. 08060; (609) 261-4800.

(Trivia answers: Chicago Cubs with 52 wins; two, Slim Love and Slim McGrew(, both 6-foot-7; Doc White, ERA 2.29.)

A Dream Car Shine and No Paint Damage

Car buffs will marvel at the cosmetic job Zymol’s Fantasy 3 wax gives a car--without paint-damaging petrochemicals or abrasive compounds.

Fantasy 3 is a natural, all-organic blend of Brazilian “white” carnuba and “yellow” carnuba, along with coconut and banana extracts. It smells so good you won’t know whether to put it on the car or use it as a tanning lotion.

Connecticut-based Zymol Enterprises has tested Fantasy 3 at major car shows and concours d’elegance for two years. The product is a contemporary American derivative of a 117-year-old German carriage wax, according to company president Chuck Bennett.

The Fantasy 3 kit also contains two pre-wax washing treatments, HD-Cleanse and Clear, to help provide the best finish to the car. It can be used as often as you wish without worrying about buildup, Bennett says.

You can buy Fantasy 3 ($45) at Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories, (213) 657-4800 in California and (800) 421-0911 outside California, or from Zymol Enterprises, (800) 999-5563.

Chopstick Fumbler? Just Fork It Over

Not everybody does chopsticks. Well, maybe on the piano, but not at an Asian eatery.

If you get frustrated trying to pick up those last few grains of rice from your plate, you might consider Forkchops, an eating utensil that combines a knife and fork with chopsticks. When you give up on the chopsticks, just flip them around and use the knife and fork on the other end. They’re made of recycled plastic, are dishwasher safe and come in black, red or a rainbow design.

Forkchops ($3.95) are available at Z Galleries stores, Fred Segal in Santa Monica, Pamela Barsky on La Cienega Boulevard, Country Mart in Brentwood, Futon Design in Long Beach, Daniel’s Market in Del Mar and Coast Hardware, Soul to Sole and Art of Living in Laguna Beach.

Or you can order them from Forkchops Enterprises, 2406 Crestview Drive, Los Angeles, Calif. 90046; (213) 874-3891. Add $1 for shipping and handling.